Weatherproof breather and relief vent for gas regulators



Dec. 2, 1952 c. D. PETERSON j WEATHERPROOF BREATHER AND RELIEF VENT FORGAS REGULATORS Filed June 1, 1949 INVENTOR L jwy/ MrZes-flfaierswzATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 2, 1952 WEATHERPROOF BREATHER AND RELIEF VENTFOR GAS REGULATORS Charles D. Peterson, Dallas, Tex., assignor toUniversal Controls Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of TexasApplication June 1, 1949, Serial No. 96,515

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to breathers or relief vents, and although ofgeneral application is directed primarily to such breathers and ventsfor gas service pressure regulators as used outdoors.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide novel andimproved vents or breathers capable of functioning satisfactorily underall weather conditions.

It is a specific object of the invention to provide vents or breathersfor use either above or below the diaphragm housing of a gas regulatorand which are constructed and arranged to prevent closure by insects orsealing by moisture or freezing.

One of the important features of the invention comprises the arrangementof a breather with a housing or 'bell including a dome-like top anddepending skirt portion having a sharpened lower' edge to facilitatedrip, together with a disc of slightly less diameter than that of theinner wall of the skirt fitted up within the skirt and secured tospacers within the housing.

Another important feature of the invention resides in a breather orrelief vent constructed to have a bell-like body or shell, a partiallyclosing disc therefor spaced upwardly from the bottom of the skirt ofthe shell and having a. uniform narrow spacing from the walls of theskirt, together with a hemispherical screen element between the shelland disc with the open side presented to the passage through the ventand an opposite area engaged by a portion of the assembly to hold thescreen tightly in position.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the provision ofa circular stop ridge integral with one of the parts of the assembly andadapted to surround and contact the periphery of the open side of thehemispherical screen to insure its positioning and to hold it againstundesired flaring.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be moreapparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of theaccompanying drawing and following specification, wherein are disclosedtwo exemplary embodiments of the invention, with the understanding thatsuch changes and modifications may be made therein as fall within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation party broken away illustrating a commercialform of gas pressure regulator equipped with a breather or vent con- 2structed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the vent or breather ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof with a portion of the closure discbroken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. l. but showing a diiierentmountin for the breather; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation partly in central vertical section of thebreather or vent shown in Fig. 4.

In many parts of the country, particularly in the Southwest, it is thepractice not only to use individual gas pressure regulators for eachservice line, but to install these out of doors, usually adjacent onewall of a house or other building served by the gas. As a result suchregulators are exposed to all weather and other adverse conditions, andparticularly have been troubled with stoppages of the, vent passage tothe air or back side of the diaphragm resulting from freezes followingor occuring during rain or sleet storms or the like. In certain caseswhole areas have been afiected and many difficulties have resulted. Thevent is associated with the chamber closing the back face of thediaphragm which responds to gas pressure to actuate the regulator valve.Under certain operating conditions the diaphragm actuated valve may bepartially or fully opened at the time the freeze-up occurs, and sincethe air behind the diaphragm can no longer be vented the valve is notautomatic-ally closed as the demand reduces, so that the pressure withinthe household system is excessive and fires have resulted. This andother troubles involve complaints from customers that their gas stovesand other appliances are not operatmg properly. Other hazards threatenthe usual type of vents and they must all be screened to keep outcertain types of wasps known as mud daubers which have the annoyinghabit of closmg small openings with mud. The screen is fairly effectiveagainst such insects but if unprotected contributes to the freezingtroubles since it provides a fine mesh area on which moisture cancollect and freeze.

In accordance with the present invention improved forms of breathers orrelief vents for gas service regulators have been provided to overcomethese previously experienced difiiculties.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a commercial form of pressureregulator I 0, including the valve and fitting I2, which is inserted inthe service line, the diaphragm housing I3, the spring casing 14 and thevent passage I5 '3 at leading from the chamber I6 on the upper or backside of the diaphragm whereby it is free to move under the dischargepressure of gas on its under side determined by the position of thevalve and the rate of gas consumption. In this particular form ofregulator an internally threaded downwardly directed port ll isconnected to the vent passage l5. This is normally closed by a screenpositioned by a snap ring, but when these are removed will receive thethreaded nipple it on the breather or relief vent 20 constructed inaccordance with one form of the present invention.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the threaded nipple i8 ispreferably formed integral with a die casting forming the shell of thebreather 28. Such a die casting includes the hexagonal nut 2! just belowthe nipple for engagement by a wrench for positioning the breather, aflaring conical or dome-like portion 22 and a cylindrical skirt 23depending from the edge of the dome portion. The nipple is through-boredas at 24 and the lower edge of the skirt is horizontal and sharpened asat 25 by an internal chamfer 26 to improve the rate at which water dripsfrom the edge and to prevent the accumulation of any amount thereof onthe skirt edge.

The primary closure for the vent is a rigid disc at having a sharpenededge at resulting from the edge chamfer 32. This sharpened edge is of adiameter approximately /8 of an inch less than the inner wall of theskirt, giving a continuous uninterrupted peripheral spacing of about 1%of an inch, which spacing effectively excludes insects of the mud daubertype, preventing them from having access to the small vent passage l andoffering too large an open annulus for them to close. The horizontallower face of the disc 38 is spaced well up above the lower edge of theskirt so that no moisture can reach it as the result of drops blowingfrom the edge 25 or driving rain drops or mist. The sharpened peripheryof the disc is well protected against any accumulation of moisture sothat this annulus is never closed as the result of rain or freezing.Because of the sharpened edge of the disc there is no tendency forliquid to be distributed about the annulus by capillarity.

The disc is supported in the desired position by engagement with thelower ends of 1a plurality of integral studs 34 depending from the domebeyond the periphery of the rib 29 and well inside the edge of the disc.Screws passing through holes in the disc are received in threads inthese studs to complete the assembly.

Some users desire the added protection of a screen and this can beprovided as shown by covering the opening 2 5 with a substantiallyhemispherical screen 28 of relatively coarse mesh which acts as asecondary defense against insects and blowing dirt and leaves. The openside of the hemisphere has its edges confined and positioned by the beador rib 29 integral with the dome. This prevents flaring of therelatively flexible screen under the pressure on its lower tip exertedby the disc 38 which engages it sufiiciently to cause slight distortionto insure its remaining rigidly in position.

This form of device either with or without the screen has been foundentirely satisfactory to prevent the occurrence of difficulties whichhave plagued users of gas pressure regulators equipped with previouslyknown forms of vents. The improved results are achieved through thenovel construction illustrated. The distance between the lower edge ofthe skirt and the under surface of the disc is approximately of an inch,to prevent freezing or blowing of liquid on to the disc. The sharpenedperiphery prevents the holding of liquid by capillary attraction and thecoarse mesh of the screen insures against closure of any of its openingsin case any water should reach it as by condensation.

In another form of commercial pressure re ulator, such as shown in Fig.4, the vent opening is upward through a boss 50. In accordance with thepresent invention this is fitted with a tall standpipe GI equipped witha second form of the invention as shown at 42. This 50- called invertedform is illustrated in more detail in Fig. 5. Here the housing has afully closed dome 42 fitted with a skirt as previously defined, shown at43, and with the studs 44 for mounting the closure disc 45. In this casethe closure disc has a centrally disposed depending integral boss atdrilled and interiorly threaded to receive the upper end of thestandpipe 4| for the passage of the venting air. Just within theperiphery of the studs 44 the inner face of the disc is fitted with anintegral bead 41 to confine the lower edges of the invertedhemispherical screen 48, which rests on the flat area within the bead.The inner face of the dome is provided with a downward projection 49 toengage the tip of the screenand hold it firmly in position within thebead. Clearly this embodiment can have the screen omitted if desired.

All of the important features which lead to the satisfactory operationof the'first embodiment are incorporated in this one, but it is made tooperate from the top of a standpipe rather than at the lower end of anipple. The tall standpipe prevents any rain hitting the top face of thediaphragm housing from splashing up on to the under side of the disc. I

I claim:

1. A weatherproof breather and vent for the purposes described includingin combination a shell member having a convex upper portion and a walldepending from the periphery thereof, a circular plate member having asharpened edge extending horizontally across the shell below the convexportion with the entire plate edge spaced slightly from the innerperiphery of the said wall above its lower edge, means joining andspacing said members, a vent passage extending through one of saidmembers and adapted to be connected to apparatus requiring venting andbreathing and a substantially hemispherical screen clamped between saidmembers and having its open side directed toward said passage.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 in which the member engaging theopen edge of the screen is provided with an integral flange confiningsaid edge.

3. A weatherproof breather and vent for the purposes described includingin combination a shell having a dome-like upper portion and a walldepending from the periphery thereof and having its lower edge chamferedinwardly, a flat circular plate extending horizontally across the shellbelow the conical portion with the entire plate edge spaced slightlyfrom the inner periphery of the said wall above said chamfered edge,studs depending from the dome-like portion of the shell, fastenerspassing through said plate and received in the studs to position theplate in respect to the shell, a vent pipe extending upwardly from theapex of the upper portion and threaded for connection to apparatusrequiring venting and breathing, and a substantially hemisphericalscreen clamped between said shell and plate and having its open sidedirected toward said pipe.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 in which the said dome-like portioninwardly of the studs is provided with an integral depending flangeconfining the upper edge of said screen to prevent expansion thereof dueto said clamping.

5. A weatherproof breather cap for the purposes described including incombination a shell member having a closed top portion and asubstantially cylindrical wall depending from the periphery thereof andhavin its lower edge sharpened to augment water drip therefrom, acircular plate having a sharpened edge extending horizontally across theshell well below the top with the entire plate edge spaced slightly fromthe inner periphery of the cylindrical wall above said lower edge, meansjoining and spacing the shell and plate well in from the periphery ofthe latter, a vent pipe depending from the center of said plate andadapted to be connected to apparatus requiring breathing, and asubstantially hemispherical screen having its open side resting on saidplate over the pipe bore, said screen engaging both the plate and shellfor positioning thereby.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 in which the plate is provided withan integral upstanding flange confining the edge of the screen.

7. A weather and insect proof breather and vent cap including abell-like body portion having an open bottom with an edge inclined toaugment water drip, a plate portion extending transversely of said body,spaced above said bottom and having a, continuous uniform clearancebetween its periphery and the walls of said body portion, a vent tubeopening through one of said portions into the space confined above saidplate, and, a screen having an area of the order of ten times that ofthe tube bore confined between said portions and protecting the tubeentrance.

8. A weatherproof breather cap of the type described including incombination a shell member of relatively heavy metal having a capportion and a substantially vertical skirt wall depending from theperiphery thereof, the bottom of said wall being chamfered Wholly on itsinner periphery to present a sharp lower edge to augment water driptherefrom, a plate member of relatively heavy metal extendingsubstantially horizontally across the shell member below the cap portionand well above the sharp lower edge of the skirt, the peripheral areabeneath said plate being wholly open, the entire plate edge beinguniformly spaced from the inner Wall of the skirt a distance of theorder of one-sixteenth of an inch, the said edge of the plate beingformed sharp by chamfering the lower portion thereof whereby thetendency of liquid to distribute about the edge and between it and theskirt Wall is eliminated, circumferentially spaced means integral withthe shell and spaced Well in from the plate periphery joining it to andspacing it from the shell, and a vent tube extending vertically from thecenter of one of said members.

CHARLES D. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 735,007 Watson July 28, 19031,622,030 Edwards Mar. 22, 1927 1,868,730 Dowrie July 26, 1932 1,921,943Rice et al. Aug. 8, 1933 1,983,417 Tokheim Dec. 4, 1934 2,247,225Edwards June 24, 1941 2,493,861 Duran Jan. 10, 1950 2,494,679 Ward, Jr.Jan. 17, 1950

